Yesterday evening, I finished reading Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. This contemporary thriller is about two high school seniors, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, who are the only Black students at their private high school, Niveus Private Academy. After they're both selected as senior class prefects, they begin getting anonymous text messages from Aces, who appears to know both Devon's and Chiamaka's secrets. Although it seems like a prank at first, as Aces reveals more about Devon and Chiamaka, they realize that Aces is intent on destroying their futures. When they make a startling discovery, they must find a way to stop Aces before the game becomes deadly.
This book was absolutely fantastic, one of the best young adult thrillers I have ever read. It had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who Aces was and what their motivation was. I found myself rooting for Devon and Chiamaka the whole time, despite their secrets, and wanted them to figure out the mystery of Aces and do something about the situation before it was too late. As I learned more and more about Aces, I was utterly disturbed by how sinister their plans really were. I loved the plot twists and the climax of this book, though, and the ending was completely satisfying. Exploring the issues of racism, bullying, homophobia, and suicidal ideation, Ace of Spaces is an outstanding choice for mature teen readers who enjoy mystery and suspense.
